Oyo LG election: opposition moves against APC domination

THERE are strong indications that members of the opposition parties in the state are working together to present a formidable force during the forthcoming local government election.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that major opposition parties in the state are currently going through one challenges or the other, hence their decision to put their heads together to ensure that they give APC a fight for their money.

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi had, on Friday, June 17, sworn in 8-man OYSIEC committee at the Executive Chamber of the Oyo State Governor’s Office. The members of the Commission are : Mr John Ajeigbe as Chairman; Mr Sunday Aborisade; Mr Adedeji Raimi; Mr David Adeagbo; Mrs Omolola Odekunbi; Alhaji AbdulRazaq Akuru; Mr Lateef Bello and Mr Rasheed Olajire.

Three of the major political parties- Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, are currently studying the situation to participate in the election.

Sources however informed the Nigerian Tribune that PDP and Accord were reported to be working on an arrangement to ensure that the election is not a jamboree for the two parties, considering the prevalent political development in the country.

The arrangement, according to sources, is that each of the party is likely to field chairmanship candidates in their strong zones in the states while the runners-up will be presented as vice chairmanship candidates, basically on the result of the last governorship election.

Although, this development cannot be confirmed from either of the party’s sources, but indication to this effect was rife in their camps.

owe

For PDP, the party is currently putting its house in order following the expiration of terms of office of its officers, from the national to the state level. With the party yet to organise another congress this year, it has sped up its effort at bringing back aggrieved members who left the party towards 2015 election.

At a meeting recently held at Jogor Events centre, stakeholders from Ibadan/Ibarapa zone at a meeting, identified with Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee and condemned attempt at producing a fake congress report for Oyo State this year.

In a statement signed by two representatives of the group, Honourable Muideen Mohammed Inakoju and Nurudeen Abolanle Oke for Ibadan and Ibarapa zones respectively, they urged members to ensure that no stone was left unturned towards bringing back into the fold, all formerly aggrieved members who left the party in anger prior to the 2015 general elections, while those who engineered and led the party astray in the 2015 elections be replaced with genuine and trusted leaders who can be relied upon to pilot the affairs of the party with integrity and honour to ensure that our party is victorious at future electoral contests.”

But the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Akeem Azeez said his party was already working and mobilising.

According to Alhaji Azeez, “Our party has started working on the forthcoming election by mobilising the party members across the state through sensitisation and educating them on all the necessary information they need to know, particularly the similarities and the differences between INEC and OYSIEC elections, and the rules and regulations guiding the Local Government election.

“As a party, we are monitoring as events are unfolding. We have told them their pre and post election duties, because election is a process not a day event.

The process that we put in place for our candidates to emerge is not only transparent, but to pick the best candidates all over the 33 local Government areas of the state.”